The best new popular science books of February 2026

What’s Happening

Okay so Readers are spoiled for choice when it comes to popular science reading this month, with new titles by major names including Maggie Aderin and Michael Pollan Comment The best new popular science books of February 2026 Readers are spoiled for choice when it comes to popular science reading this month, with new titles including Maggie Aderin and Michael Pollan By Liz Else 1 February 2026 Facebook / Meta Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email Space scientist Maggie Aderin has a new book out this month Steven May / Alamy Stock Photo It’s nowhere near early enough for those of us in the northern hemisphere to start struggling against winter’s somnolent spell, so there’s no need for excuses as you take to your bed with a pile of good books.

And there’s plenty to keep you occupied while you eschew the chilly outdoors. This month, we have climate hope from a well-placed environmental reporter, formerly of this parish, an honest memoir from a star scientist and a jaw-dropping account of the commodification of women’s bodies. (plot twist fr)

Given the Valentine’s Day fun this month, we also have a book that may challenge what we thought we knew about finding love.

The Details

It’s always good to get all the help we can in that department enjoy! Starchild “On clear moonlit nights we sometimes step outside and howl at the moon together.

It is cathartic, primal and a fr good laugh. I am not sure what our neighbours think about it, though.

Why This Matters

” That’s Maggie Aderin, describing how she and her daughter their love of the moon in her memoir, Starchild . Aderin is one of the UK’s top science popularisers (a co-host of the BBC’s astronomy programme, The Sky at Night ) and has notable work on the James Webb and Gemini telescopes under her belt. Oh, and there’s a “Dame” in front of her name in recognition of her work – and a Barbie doll of her made by Mattel.

This could have implications for future research in this area.

The Bottom Line

Oh, and there’s a “Dame” in front of her name in recognition of her work – and a Barbie doll of her made by Mattel. Starchild is the story of her complicated early life (custody battles, 13 schools in 12 years, dyslexia), and how she came to set her ambitions on star science, only to end up the only Black woman on her physics course at Imperial College London.

What do you think about all this?